Social and recreational activities

Japanese Americans found ways to fill the long days created by the enforced idleness of camp life. They made jewelry from shells found in the desert, built furniture for their rooms using scrap lumber and renovated the exteriors of their barracks. People also played cards, chess, checkers, mahjongg, and the Japanese games 'go' and 'shogi.' Camp inmates held dances, concerts, plays, and arts and crafts exhibitions. In Minidoka concentration camp, Idaho, they even held a beauty contest to select the "Sweetheart of Minidoka."

World War II (277)
Concentration camps (1771)
Social and recreational activities (1230)

Related articles from the Densho Encyclopedia :
Arts and crafts in camp, Music in camp

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1230 items

doc Memo from Jiro Fujioka, Co-operating with Block Chairmen, Heart Mountain, to Mr. Matsushige, June 21, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-693)

Memorandum from Jiro Fujioka to Speaker, Mr. Matsushige, regarding his speech on home role at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Includes handwritten comments in Japanese. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0695

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-693/

doc Memo from Shoji Nagumo, Co-operating with Block Chairmen to Mr. Hatchimonji, October 11, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-956)

Memorandum from Jiro Fujioka to Speaker, Mr. Hatchimonji regarding his "resettlement problem" talk at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Includes Japanese handwritten notes. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0958

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-956/

doc Letter from Motokazu Mori, Chief, Japanese Young People Division, to Miss March Clark, March 7, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-1468)

Invitation for the spring events presented by the Japanese Young People Division at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 113. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1470

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1468/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting, November 23, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-492)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Community Council meeting. Includes discussion on milk, dental services, and recreation. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0494

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-492/

doc Song sheet with lyrics (ddr-csujad-55-1945)

List of songs and lyrics for fourteen songs, probably from the "Let's Sing" program at Tule Lake incarceration camp. See also sac_jaac_1943 through sac_jaac_1948. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1948

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1945/

doc Sentinel supplement, series 8 (November 18, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-1020)

News bulletin for incarcerees covering announcements, events, programs, policies, recreational activities, and jobs at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Current issue includes information on paychecks, clothing allowances, and "Issei-Nisei cooperation." Includes section in Japanese. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1022

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1020/

doc Mess hall schedule for community dances (ddr-csujad-55-716)

Schedule of community dances at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0718

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-716/

doc Jr Sr colonial winter program (ddr-csujad-55-1418)

Program for the Federal High School Junior-Senior "Colonial Winter" Banquet at Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. For scrapbook page with programs, see sac_jaac_1418. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 75. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1420

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1418/

doc Indoor recreational activities survey (ddr-csujad-55-13)

Handwritten survey created for the purpose of gathering feedback on the types of indoor recreational activities preferred by each block. Respondents were asked about activity preference, appointment of a recreation leader for the block, and names of individuals who could lead activities. Includes handwritten responses from five block managers. See this object in the California State …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-13/

doc Memo from Jiro Fujioka, Co-operating with Block Chairmen, Heart Mountain, to Mr. Motoyoshi, June 21, 1943 (ddr-csujad-55-702)

Memorandum from Jiro Fujioka to Speaker, Mr. Motoyoshi, regarding his speech on fine art at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0704

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-702/

doc Sentinel supplement, series 42 (March 9, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1037)

News bulletin for incarcerees covering announcements, events, programs, policies, recreational activities, and jobs at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Current issue includes information a response from Block Chairmen and Block Managers regarding registration ("loyalty questionnaire") and change in schedule for a social event. Includes section in Japanese. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1037/

doc Recreation Department fund (ddr-csujad-55-308)

List of the types of recreational activities at Heart Mountain incarceration camp and funds needed. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0310

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-308/

doc General information bulletin (Cody, Wyo.), series 5 (September 5, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-641)

General Information Bulletin, Series 5, published at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp, Wyoming, on September 5, 1942. Bulletin including news, events, and topics related to Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Includes: Special Labor Day program set; Community enterprises on cooperative basis; Meeting notices; Internal security information; Church notices; General information; and Tap water now fit to drink. …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-641/

doc Sentinel supplement, series 59 (April 22, 1943) (ddr-csujad-55-1048)

News bulletin for incarcerees covering announcements, events, programs, policies, recreational activities, and jobs at Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Current issue includes information on "cleanup week," holy communion schedule, dry goods sale, a Rho conference, and softball. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1050

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1048/

doc General information bulletin (Cody, Wyo.), series 27 (October 17, 1942) (ddr-csujad-55-659)

General information bulletin, series 27, published at the Heart Mountain incarceration camp, Wyoming on October 17, 1942. Bulletin including news, events, and topics related to Heart Mountain incarceration camp. Includes: City planning boar formed; Church services in permanent locale; Religious activities; Week-day activities; Civilians, soldiers visitors here; Issue mackinaw jackets to workers; Payment of sales tax …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-659/

img May Day (ddr-csujad-55-1475)

Scrapbook page containing three black and white photographs of the German May Day celebration at the Crystal City Department of Justice Internment Camp. Title from caption. From the Mary F. Clark scrapbook, "Before I Forget, 1942-1947," page 118. See also sac_jaac_1334 through sac_jaac_1529. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: …

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1475/

doc Song sheet with lyrics (ddr-csujad-55-1970)

Song sheet including lyrics to twenty-two popular songs. From the Masako Adachi scrapbook, page 17. See also sac_jaac_1953. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_1973

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-1970/

doc Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting, January 20, 1944 (ddr-csujad-55-440)

Minutes from the Heart Mountain Block Chairmen meeting. Includes report from Postal Committee and a discussion on recreation items and Shinnenkai. See this object in the California State Universities Japanese American Digitization project site: sac_jaac_0442

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-csujad-55-440/

img Young Japanese Americans playing in creek (ddr-densho-151-400)

Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuee children enjoying a hot summer afternoon in the mountain creek which flows through the desert on the border of this War Relocation Authority center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-400/

img Japanese Americans playing in creek (ddr-densho-151-401)

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-401/

img Japanese Americans watching baseball game (ddr-densho-151-468)

Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuees watching a ball game late in the afternoon at this War Relocation Authority center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-468/

img Japanese Americans playing in stream (ddr-densho-151-473)

Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuees of Japanese ancestry enjoying a hot summer afternoon at this War Relocation Authority center. This mountain stream flows through the desert on the border of the Center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-473/

img Japanese Americans playing games in shade (ddr-densho-151-402)

Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuees enjoying games under the shade of trees near the creek which flows through the desert on the border of this War Relocation Authrority center.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-402/

img Japanese Americans playing go (ddr-densho-151-398)

Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Playing the Japanese game Goh in the Relocation Hall at this War Relocation Authority center for evacuees of Japanese ancestry.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-398/

img Young Japanese American reading comics (ddr-densho-151-472)

Original caption: Manzanar Relocation Center, Manzanar, California. Evacuee boy at this War Relocation Authority center reading the Funnies.

https://ddr.densho.org/ddr-densho-151-472/